<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> label {color: red} input:default + label {color: green} input:not(:checked):not([checked]):not(:default) + label {color:green} </style> </head> <body onload='document.getElementById("one").setAttribute("checked", "true"); document.getElementById("two").removeAttribute("checked");'> <form> <input type="checkbox" name="group1" id="one" value="1"/> <label id="l1" for="one">Should be no red</label><br> <input type="checkbox" name="group1" id="two" value="2" checked="true"/> <label id="l2" for="two">Should be no red</label> </form> </body> </html>